Signoe to said scott



(No Model.)

T. BAKER & W. M. SCOTT.

CARTRIDGE.

N0-.. 271 565. Patented Jan-.30,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BAKER, OF ASTON, NEAR BIRMINGHAM, AND WILLIAM M. SCOTT,

OF BIRMINGHAM, COUNTY OF WARWICK, ENGLAND; SAID BAKER AS- SIGNOR TO SAID SCOTT.

CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 271,565, dated January 30, 1883.

Application filed November 14, 1882. (No model.) Patented in England February 8, 1882, No. 6l7.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, THOMAS BAKER, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, and WILLIAM MIDDLEDITGH SCOTT, of Birmingham aforesaid ,have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Cartridges for Breech -Loading Small-Arms, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

10 The present invention relates more particularly to the construction of cartridges for use in breech-loading small-arms having internal or concealed hammers, the percussion-cap by which the charge is ignited being placed in I the center of the cartridge-head, and has for its object to prevent corrosion of the lock mechanism by the gases produced by the detonation of said cap.

The said invention consists in forming the head of the cartridge with grooves, openings,

or depressions extending from the percussioncap in the center of the cartridge-head to the .outer edge thereof, through which grooves, openings, or depressions the gases of explosion of the cap will readily escape to the outside air instead of penetrating to the lock mechanism, to the injury thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view,

0 partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a portion of the breech end of an internal-hammer drop-down gun, showin g in position for firing a cartridge constructed in accordance with this invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are views, in side and end elevation, respectively, of the cartridge-shell.

fis the cartridge, in the face of the metallic head of which the gas escape channels or passages are made. They consist of the ra- 0 dial grooves or depressions g, opening at their inner ends into the small chamber h,in which the percussion-cap is situated, their outer ends opening at the edge of the cartridge-head.

a, Fig. 1, is the break-off of the gun, which 5 is shown as being also provided with grooves or channels a for the escape of the gases of explosion. This, however, forms no part of the present invention.

dis the hole through which the striker is projected to discharge the gun.

When the gun is discharged the gases produced by the explosion of the percussion-cap readily escape through the passages described and represented in-the head of the cartridge to the edge thereof, and thence between the face of the break-off and the barrels to the atmosphere.

Instead of making open channels or passages in the cartridge-head, covered passages may be made-i. 0., the holes may be drilled from the side of the cartridge shell just under the head to the chamber h, in which the percussion-cap is placed; and instead of straight grooves or passages curved grooves or passages may be employed. The straight grooves, however, are preferred. Any desired number of such passages may be formed.

In Letters Patent of the United States, No. 264,77 ranted to us on the 19th of September, 1882, for improvements in breech-load- 7o ing fire-arms, we have shown, described, and claimed a gun having the break-oh" provided with grooves or passages similar to and for the same purpose as the grooves or passages in the cartridge herein described. This pres- 7 5 ent patent is a division and continuation of our aforesaid patent, in which the grooved cartridge is disclaimed.

Having now fully described our said invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, what we claim is 1. The improved cartridge-shell, having at the center of the face a small depression or chamber surrounding the cap, and provided with one or more grooves or passages extending from said chamber to the periphery of the cartridge, substantially as described.

2. The improved cartridge described, having formed in the face of the head thereof grooves, channels, or passages extending rao dially from the percussion-cap at the center of said head to the outer edge thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we, the said THOMAS BAKER and the said WILLIAM M. SooTT, have 9 5 signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS BAKER. WILLIAM MIDDLEDITCH scorr. [n s] [n sl 

